Underwater vehicle, which swivels a drive upon immersion into a body of water

Abstract

An underwater vehicle may include a first propulsion element disposed on a first swivel holder, a first drive motor that is able to drive the first propulsion element, and a swivel mechanism that is able to move the first swivel holder relative to an outer hull of the underwater vehicle from a swiveled-in position into a swiveled-out position. The underwater vehicle can detect a given event automatically under water. In response to the detection of the event, the underwater vehicle may activate the swivel mechanism. The activated swivel mechanism may then move the first swivel holder into the swiveled-out position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An underwater vehicle comprising:
 an outer hull that extends along a longitudinal axis; 
 a first propulsion element disposed on a first swivel holder, wherein the first swivel holder is movable relative to the outer hull between a swiveled-in position and a swiveled-out position, wherein a distance between the first propulsion element and the longitudinal axis is smaller with the first swivel holder in the swiveled-in position than in the swiveled-out position; 
 a first drive motor that is configured to drive the first propulsion element; and 
 a swivel mechanism configured to move the first swivel holder together with the first propulsion element from the swiveled-in position into the swiveled-out position, wherein the swivel mechanism comprises:
 expansion means that is activatable, and 
 a transmission device that is mechanical and is movable relative to the outer hull, wherein activation of the expansion means causes movement of the transmission device, wherein movement of the transmission device causes swiveling of the first swivel holder into the swiveled-out position, 
 
 wherein the underwater vehicle is configured, automatically underwater, to detect an event and to activate the swivel mechanism in response to detection of the event, wherein activation of the swivel mechanism causes movement of the first swivel holder from the swiveled-in position into the swiveled-out position. 
 
     
     
       2. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the transmission device is linearly movable relative to the outer hull, wherein activation of the expansion means causes a linear movement of the transmission device. 
     
     
       3. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the transmission device comprises a guide surface disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first swivel holder comprises a component that is in mechanical contact with the guide surface, wherein movement of the transmission device causes movement of the first swivel holder relative to the outer hull and movement of the component relative to the guide surface, wherein a relative movement of the component causes or allows swiveling of the first swivel holder into the swiveled-out position. 
     
     
       4. The underwater vehicle of  claim 3  wherein the transmission device comprises a piston that is movable relative to the outer hull, wherein the guide surface comprises a cone-shaped indentation of the movable piston. 
     
     
       5. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  comprising a hollow body that encloses a cavity, the hollow body being disposed inside the outer hull, wherein at least part of the transmission device is disposed in the cavity of the hollow body. 
     
     
       6. The underwater vehicle of  claim 5  wherein the transmission device comprises a piston that is disposed in the cavity and is linearly movable relative to the hollow body. 
     
     
       7. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  wherein a hollow body that encloses a cavity is disposed inside the outer hull, wherein the underwater vehicle is configured after activation of the expansion means to cause a fluid to flow into the cavity, wherein a flow of the fluid into the cavity causes movement of the transmission device. 
     
     
       8. The underwater vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the fluid comprises water that surrounds the underwater vehicle when immersed. 
     
     
       9. The underwater vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the expansion means comprises a container with an outlet, wherein the outlet comprises a closure member and opens into the cavity, wherein the fluid is contained in the container, wherein the underwater vehicle is configured after activation of the expansion means to fulfill the closure member for the outlet, wherein the expansion means is configured such that when the closure member is open the fluid in the container flows into the cavity and causes movement of the transmission device. 
     
     
       10. The underwater vehicle of  claim 9  wherein the expansion means is configured such that the fluid cures in the cavity. 
     
     
       11. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the first drive motor is disposed on the first swivel holder. 
     
     
       12. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the first propulsion element is disposed at a stern of the underwater vehicle, wherein at least when the first swivel holder is in the swiveled-out position the first propulsion element is disposed at least partially behind a contour of the outer hull when viewed in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       13. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  comprising:
 a second swivel holder; and 
 a second propulsion element disposed on the second swivel holder, wherein the second swivel holder is movable relative to the outer hull between a swiveled-in position and a swiveled-out position, wherein the swivel mechanism is configured to move the first swivel holder and the second swivel holder, together with the first and second propulsion elements on the first and second swivel holders, from the swiveled-in positions to the swiveled-out positions in a synchronized manner. 
 
     
     
       14. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  wherein the first swivel holder is configured to be swiveled about a first swivel axis, wherein the first swivel holder comprises two arms that are mechanically connected together and extend away from the first swivel axis in different directions, wherein a first of the two arms is in operative connection with the swivel mechanism, wherein the first propulsion element is disposed on a second of the two arms. 
     
     
       15. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  comprising a sensor that is configured to detect an environmental condition automatically underwater, wherein the underwater vehicle is configured to activate the swivel mechanism automatically in response to detection of the environmental condition. 
     
     
       16. The underwater vehicle of  claim 15  wherein the sensor is configured to automatically detect at least one of the following events:
 immersion of the underwater vehicle in a body of water; 
 the underwater vehicle reaching a given water depth; 
 a distance between the underwater vehicle and a bottom of the body of water has fallen below a threshold; or 
 an object with given properties has been detected outside the underwater vehicle, wherein the swivel mechanism is activated automatically upon detection of one or more of the events. 
 
     
     
       17. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  comprising an activatable time switch that is configured to detect an event where a given time period after activation of the time switch has passed, wherein the underwater vehicle is configured to activate the swivel mechanism in response to the event. 
     
     
       18. The underwater vehicle of  claim 1  configured such that the first drive motor is switched off when the first swivel holder is in the swiveled-in position, wherein the underwater vehicle is configured to switch on the first drive motor in response to an event that the first swivel holder has reached the swiveled-out position or an intermediate position. 
     
     
       19. A method for operating an underwater vehicle, wherein the underwater vehicle comprises an outer hull that extends along a longitudinal axis; a first propulsion element disposed on a first swivel holder, wherein the first swivel holder is movable relative to the outer hull between a swiveled-in position and a swiveled-out position, wherein a distance between the first propulsion element and the longitudinal axis is smaller with the first swivel holder in the swiveled-in position than in the swiveled-out position; a first drive motor that is configured to drive the first propulsion element; and a swivel mechanism that includes expansion means that is activatable and a transmission device that is mechanical and is movable relative to the outer hull, the method comprising:
 transporting the underwater vehicle out of water to an operating site with the first swivel holder in the swiveled-in position; 
 placing the underwater vehicle into the water with the first swivel holder in the swiveled-in position; 
 detecting an event automatically underwater with the underwater vehicle and in response to detection of the event activating the swivel mechanism, wherein activating the swivel mechanism comprises activating the expansion means, the expansion means moving the transmission device, and the transmission device moving the first swivel holder from the swiveled-in position into the swiveled-out position; and 
 moving the underwater vehicle through the water with the first swivel holder in the swiveled-out position. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein a hollow body that encloses a cavity is disposed inside the outer hull, wherein activating the expansion means comprises initiating an event that a fluid flows into the cavity, wherein inflow of the fluid into the cavity causes the transmission device to be moved. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 19  wherein after the underwater vehicle is placed in the water a sensor onboard the underwater vehicle automatically detects an environmental condition, wherein detection of the environmental condition initiates activation of the swivel mechanism. 
     
     
       22. An underwater vehicle comprising:
 an outer hull that extends along a longitudinal axis; 
 a first propulsion element disposed on a first swivel holder, wherein the first swivel holder is movable relative to the outer hull between a swiveled-in position and a swiveled-out position, wherein a distance between the first propulsion element and the longitudinal axis is smaller with the first swivel holder in the swiveled-in position than in the swiveled-out position; 
 a first drive motor that is configured to drive the first propulsion element; 
 a swivel mechanism configured to move the first swivel holder together with the first propulsion element from the swiveled-in position into the swiveled-out position, wherein the underwater vehicle is configured, automatically underwater, to detect an event and to activate the swivel mechanism in response to detection of the event, wherein activation of the swivel mechanism causes movement of the first swivel holder from the swiveled-in position into the swiveled-out position; and 
 a locking unit, wherein in a locking position the locking unit locks the swivel mechanism and prevents the first swivel holder from swiveling, wherein in a release position the locking unit allows the first swivel holder to swivel.